The ExFAT File System

Summary

The ExFAT file system is sometimes considered an extension of the File Allocation Table (FAT) file system and in many ways this is correct. However, the ExFAT file system introduces many new features not found in the FAT file system such as the FAT table being used only for fragmented files and extra types of directory entry allowing for more metadata to be stored about files. This extra metadata improves the timestamp granularity from two seconds to milli‐seconds and also introduces a time zone component to the metadata information. The ExFAT file system is becoming the new standard on removable media as it slowly replaces the older FAT file system. Support for the ExFAT file system is provided by all major operating systems.